First of all, I'm new taking this medication. My doc called and said my blood sugars were off and I needed to take this. I'm not sure what my levels are. I am trying to eat correctly but have been having horrible side effects. I am using a tracking device on my phone to help count calories, ect.. but I am trying to get a guide for sugars so I can avoid getting sick. I came to the website for HELPFUL answers, not attitude. You should encourage, not discourage.

And if you don't ask how much sugar you can eat but about the medication or diabetes you will get allot more info.

EG

egriesemer3 Oct 2013

But I never said anything about candy, ect... Do you have any idea how much natural sugar there is in fruit? 13 grams in 1/2 a banana. That's a lot if, according to my fitness pal, the mex for the day should be 25 grams. That's w/o taking into effect the metformin.

You want to try to keep your blood sugars as close to around oh 98 to 100 to 105, and below 150, as you can. There is not a certain level of sugar you consume then the pill kicks in-it doesnt work this way. It will lower your sugar even if you dont eat anything so this is why diet is important and why you take it 30 minutes before you eat. If you dont eat, it can push you down into hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) on to coma and death. You should always keep a source of sugar on your person at all times. You can get glucose tablets or you can use hard candy (like Lifesavers etc) Everything you eat is broken down by the body into glucose and the body uses the glucose for fuel. It is just like putting gas in your car. Too much gas and it will spill over, and by running out of gas, it stops working. If you can, call your insurance company and see if they cover diabetes classes. I encourage you and your significant other to attend these classes so you can learn how to eat.

There are many diabetes cookbooks around and lot of self help books for diabetes. Look on the American Diabetes Association website for good info. www.diabetes.org is their web address. I think you will like the site. There is a ton of patient information, recipes, news and research and all kinds of useful, easy to use and fun interactive info. Start with the diabetes basics. Once you understand what diabetes is and how your body works, you can learn to control it. Foods are fuels in, exercise, meds, insulin etc. is burning fuel. You have to learn to find a balance of the right amount of fuel in and the right amount of burning fuel off. Make the most of your diet by being sure that what you eat is nutrient dense. Refined white flour and refined white sugar dont have a lot of nutrient value compared to the amount of glucose they will put into your body so you want to choose more whole grains, drink plenty of fresh clean water, eat lean meats, plenty of vegetables and some fruits. Limit desserts to special occasions like birthdays and holidays (it doesnt mean you cant ever have sugar again but when you eat a high sugar food like cake and ice cream-have a small portion and subtract carbohydrates from somewhere else in the days meals and snacks and add a little more exercise that day) and limit simple carbs like white rice, pasta, potatoes. You can get glucose from both an orange and a piece of candy but the orange is the better choice because it offers vitamins and fiber as well. Everyone could benefit from eating a "diabetic diet". Under the "Living with Diabetes" section of the website there is a subsection called "recently diagnosed" and it has a nice interactive section that should be helpful to you. Try the section that says "where do I begin with Type 2" Read and learn all you can, see if your insurance company covers diabetes classes and find out where you can go for them-often the hospitals have them with a registered dietitian and an RN Diabetes Educator. What kind of "abdominal side effects" are you having with metformin?

Did your Dr give you a glucometer to check your blood glucose levels? In the beginning, you will want to be aware of what you are eating and your blood sugar levels. If it is easier for you, make a food diary of what you ate, how much, what time and how did you feel and what was your blood sugar/blood glucose? Soon, you will "guesstimate" what level your glucose is by how you feel and you will begin to know what foods make your sugars spike and the ones that make you feel crappy.

EG

egriesemer3 Oct 2013

Thank you so much for the information. Very helpful. Have a plan to start tomm. Fingers crossed :)

I feel the same, my doctor put me on metformin, becausey sugar is a little high, but you can't expect people to stay away from sugar all together especially for just start. Yes I would like to know how much sugar I can have?